Could you pass the US Naval Academy entrance exam from 1931? (Questions inside)

Asked by TexasDude (25274) September 5th, 2010

I recently bought a pristine antique testing booklet for admission into the United States Naval Academy, dated 1931. This book would have been used to test high school graduates’ knowledge, grammar, mathematical, and reasoning skills before being considered for admission into the Academy.

Looking over the questions, I have noticed one peculiar thing:

They are really f*$%ing hard!

So what about you, Fluther? Can you answer any of these questions using only what high schoolers in 1931 would have available to them: your noggin?

Let’s find out….

Mathematics

1) Find the highest common factor of
6y^2 + 33y – 63 and 2y^3 + 11y^2 – y – 30

2) Divide 23 into two parts such that the first is one less than three times the second.

3) A bar of iron 3 meters long will expand how many millimeters in length when raised in temperature from the melting point of ice to the boiling point of water? (Coefficient of linear expansion of iron is 0.000011 per degree centigrade).

History

1) Contrast the policies of Marius and Sulla.

2) Explain the significance of the Licinian Laws.

3) Explain the provisions of the “Tariff of Abominations” of 1825, and the Wilson Tariff Act of 1894.

4) Discuss Hamilton’s financial measures.

Grammar, Composition, and Rhetoric

1) In a paragraph, describe the joy of new brooms.

2) Make all necessary corrections to the following sentences:

When one handles gasoline, they must be careful, due to the danger of a possible explosion.

Most all the excitement was due to the accident.

The stranger whom John followed was the man whom I believe robbed the bank.

3) Name the titles of four poems by Milton (or alternatively, Browning) and explain the central idea and rhetorical devices of each of them.

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These are some questions I randomly selected. Most of them are just as difficult, if not more. Can you answer any of them? I’ll post more, if anyone wants.